Air pollution abatement and crop growth stimulation technology

ABSTRACT

A system and method of abating air pollution and stimulating crop growth. A reagent is introduced to a crop canopy to neutralize air pollutants within said canopy, wherein the reagent induces an oxidation-reduction chemical reaction with the air pollution present throughout the acreage of crops, and by means of the reaction effectually neutralizes the harmful effects of the air pollutants on the crops. The reagent is diluted using a venturi valve or other means. The flow rate of said reagent is regulated using an electronic control unit, based on data collected from at least one type of sensor in the canopy that is in communication with the control unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS, IF ANY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) ofco-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/528,189,filed Jul. 3, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

37 C.F.R. 1.71(e) AUTHORIZATION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the US Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to agricultural andenvironmental systems, apparatus and methods. Particularly, theinvention relates to a method of abating air pollution and stimulatingcrop growth.

2. Background Information

It may be hard to imagine that pollution could be invisible, but ozoneis. The most widespread pollutant in the U.S. is also one of the mostdangerous. Scientists have studied the effects of ozone on health fordecades. Hundreds of research studies have confirmed that ozone harmspeople at levels currently found in the United States.

Ozone is also harmful to the plants we grow for nutrition. According tothe United States Department of Agriculture, ground-level ozone causesmore damage to plants than all other air pollutants combined. As astrong oxidant, ozone causes several types of symptoms includingchlorosis and necrosis. Furthermore, controlled studies in open-topfield chambers have repeatedly verified that flecking, stippling,bronzing and reddening on plant leaves are classical responses toambient levels of ozone. In terms of crop yield loss caused by ozone,similar open-top studies conducted by the National Crop Loss AssessmentNetwork showed between 35 and 45 percent yield loss among dicot specieswhen exposed to ambient ozone at 100 parts per billion. The presentinvention hopes to ameliorate this situation.

What is Ozone?

Ozone (O3) is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. Oftencalled “smog.” ozone is harmful to breathe. Ozone aggressively attackslung tissue by reacting chemically with it.

The ozone layer found high in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere)shields us from much of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, ozoneair pollution at ground level where we can breathe it (in thetroposphere) causes serious health problems.

Where does Ozone Come From?

Ozone develops in the atmosphere from gases that come out of tailpipes,smokestacks and many other sources. When these gases come in contactwith sunlight, they react and form ozone smog.

The essential raw ingredients for ozone come from nitrogen oxides (NOx),hydrocarbons, also called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonmonoxide (CO). They are produced primarily when fossil fuels likegasoline, oil or coal are burned or when some chemicals, like solvents,evaporate. NOx is emitted from power plants, motor vehicles and othersources of high-heat combustion. VOCs are emitted from motor vehicles,chemical plants, refineries, factories, gas stations, paint and othersources. CO is also primarily emitted from motor vehicles.

If the ingredients are present under the right conditions, they react tofrom ozone. And because the reaction takes place in the atmosphere, theozone often shows up downwind of the sources of the original gases. Inaddition, winds can carry ozone far from where it began.

Hydrogen as a Solution

For over 40 years, industry has used hydrogen in vast quantities as anindustrial chemical and fuel for space exploration. During that time,industry has developed an infrastructure to produce, store, transportand utilize hydrogen safely.

Hydrogen is no more dangerous than other flammable fuels, includinggasoline and natural gas. In fact, some of hydrogen's differencesactually provide safety benefits compared to gasoline or other fuels.However, all flammable fuels must be handled responsibly.

Like gasoline and natural gas, hydrogen is flammable and can behavedangerously under specific conditions. Hydrogen can be handled safelywhen simple guidelines are observed and the user has an understanding ofits behavior. The following lists some of the most notable differences:

1) Hydrogen is lighter than air and diffuses rapidly. Hydrogen has arapid diffusivity (3.8 times faster than natural gas), which means thatwhen released, it dilutes quickly into a non-flammable concentration.Hydrogen rises 2 times faster than helium and 6 times faster thannatural gas at a speed of almost 45 mph (20 m/s). Therefore, unless aroof, a poorly ventilated room or some other structure contains therising gas, the laws of physics prevent hydrogen from lingering near aleak (or near people using hydrogen-fueled equipment). Simply stated, tobecome a fire hazard, hydrogen must first be confined—but as thelightest element in the universe, confining hydrogen is very difficult.Industry takes these properties into account when designing structureswhere hydrogen will be used. The designs help hydrogen escape up andaway from the user in case of an unexpected release.

2) Hydrogen is odorless, colorless and tasteless, so most human senseswon't help to detect a leak. However, given hydrogen's tendency to risequickly, a hydrogen leak indoors would briefly collect on the ceilingand eventually move towards the corners and away from where any nosemight detect it. For that and other reasons, industry often useshydrogen sensors to help detect hydrogen leaks and has maintained a highsafety record using them for decades. By comparison, natural gas is alsoodorless, colorless and tasteless, but industry adds a sulfur-containingodorant, called mercaptan, to make it detectable by people. Currently,all known odorants contaminate fuel cells (a popular application forhydrogen). Researchers are investigating other methods that might beused for hydrogen detection: tracers, new odorant technology, advancedsensors and others.

3) Hydrogen flames have low radiant heat. Hydrogen combustion primarilyproduces heat and water. Due to the absence of carbon and the presenceof heat-absorbing water vapor created when hydrogen burns, a hydrogenfire has significantly less radiant heat compared to a hydrocarbon fire.Since the flame emits low levels of heat near the flame (the flameitself is just as hot), the risk of secondary fires is lower.

4) Like any flammable fuel, hydrogen can combust. But hydrogen'sbuoyancy, diffusivity and small molecular size make it difficult tocontain and create a combustible situation. In order for a hydrogen fireto occur, an adequate concentration of hydrogen, the presence of anignition source and the right amount of oxidizer (like oxygen) must bepresent at the same time. Hydrogen has a wide flammability range (4-74%in air).

Meanwhile, plants require hydrogen to form carbohydrates and sugars.Plants currently assemble all of their hydrogen requirements bysplitting water molecules H₂O in the photosynthetic process in theleaves of plants when exposed to sunlight. So hydrogen is alreadypresent in the leaves and is a molecule synthesized for plant growth.

Existing technology in this field is believed to have significantlimitations and shortcomings. For this reason and those described above,a need exists for the present invention.

All US patents and patent applications, and all other publisheddocuments mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides systems and methods which are practical, reliableand efficient, and which are believed to fulfill the need and toconstitute an improvement over the background technology, The inventionhas at least the following aspects:

-   1. A system including a compression source, reagent source, and grid    of tubes in a field of crops, to prescriptively distribute an air    pollution negating reagent into the atmosphere immersing the a field    of crops.-   2. Introduction of a reagent that is non-toxic to plants, over a    large acreage, wherein said reagent induces an oxidation-reduction    chemical reaction with the air pollution present throughout the    acreage of crops, by means of the reaction effectually neutralizing    the harmful effects of the air pollutants notably O₃ and NO_(x) on    the crops.-   3. Said reagent is hydrogen H₂ gas that is delivered in the    distribution grid at a diluted ratio not to exceed the flammability    point of 4% H₂ concentration in ambient air.-   4. The delivering actuation and rate of delivery of the reagent is    determined by the level of air pollution, so that the chemical    reaction neutralizing effect envelopes, but does not vastly exceed    the space occupied by the crops' foliar canopy.-   5. Hydrogen delivery in aerial application as an airborne fertilizer    to stimulate carbohydrate formation in the leaves of plants.-   6. Source of reagent is a compressed tank.-   7. Source of reagent is a steam methane reformer.-   8. Source of reagent is electrolysis.

The aspects, features, advantages, benefits and objects of the inventionwill become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to thefollowing description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a Crop Growth Enhancement Method using aReagent to Neutralize Air Pollutants.

O₃ ozone, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are common oxidation agentsassociated with air pollution and are very deleterious to human healthand plant/crop health and productivity. Ozone in particular is a problemwith respect to air pollution, human health and plant health. Ozone isvery chemically reactive and is known in the chemical sciences as a freeradical.

An oxidizing agent transfers oxygen atoms to a substrate. In thiscontext, the oxidizing agent can be called an oxygenation reagent oroxygen-atom transfer (OAT) agent.

The present invention relates to introducing a reducing chemical reagentand oxygen molecule acceptor of an oxidation-reduction reaction. In thecase of Hydrogen gas being the acceptor the reaction is either:

O₃+H₂→O₂+H₂O for ozone as oxidizing agent

or

2NO+2H₂→N₂+2H₂O for nitric oxide as oxidizing agent

or

2NO₂+4H→N+4H₂O for nitrogen dioxide as oxidizing agent.

Because hydrogen gas is a very active reducing agent with the oxidizingagent O₂, hydrogen is highly explosive in air. However, in prescriptiveamounts where the concentration of the H₂ gas in ambient air is lessthan 4% (below combustion point), the hydrogen is not flammable orexplosive.

-   -   The flammability limits based on the volume percent of hydrogen        in air at 14.7 psia (1 atm, 101 kPa) are 4.0 and 75.0. The        flammability limits based on the volume percent of hydrogen in        oxygen at 14.7 psia (1 atm, 101 kPa) are 4.0 and 94.0.    -   The limits of detonability of hydrogen in air are 18.3 to 59        percent by volume

The present invention is a system with a hydrogen source, a compressor,and manifolds lines to distribute H₂ or other O₃ neutralizing agentbased upon pollution levels.

-   -   Source of hydrogen is preferably a semi-portable tank    -   Source of hydrogen is a steam methane reformer        Reagent gas reacts with the Ozone gas within the system (reacts        with and neutralizes ozone) and then enough reagent is left to        react and neutralize Ozone in the leafy plant canopy. Sensors        are employed to a controller to prescriptively add H₂ at a rate        sufficient to normalize the O₃ levels present in the leafy area        of the crops. The hydrogen diffuses rapidly from the emitters        and is lighter than air so rises up through the plant canopy        into the surrounding air.

The systems seeks to achieve a special prescription of 0.097 ppm whichis the ozone level in Fresno, Calif., one of the most polluted regionsof the United States. Similar high pollutant levels are present throughSan Joaquin Valley, the region which produces most of the fruits, nutsand vegetables consumed in the US.

While applications of reagent may take place 24/7, in the preferredembodiment the prescription rate is higher and matches the higherpollution levels associated with photochemical reaction during highsunlight, at which time the plants' stomata are at their most open statetherein allowing the toxic O₃ gas to enter the interior leaf space wheredamage occurs from the air pollutants, and/or, rate of delivery can beadjusted to the dynamic ambient O₃ by employing a real-time airpollutant metering device positioned in the leafy plant canopy.

The current inventor has spent years developing CO₂ gaseous deliverysystems to open field crops. It is well known in the sciences that airpollution is deleterious to crop yields especially in regions synonymouswith nasty air pollution like Central Valley California, China, Mexico,Brazil and other regions around the globe. Two primary air pollutantsthat are toxic to crops and suppress production are NO_(x) and theresulting photochemical smog ozone O₃. In Fresno Calif., the highest airpollution in the US, O₃ levels are at 0.097 PPM.

The present invention uses compressors, manifolds, and tubes/tapes withemitters to introduce prescriptive levels of hydrogen gas, aerosolhydrogen peroxide or other reactive gases or aerosols that are notharmful to crops, but that will react and neutralize the O₃ ozone andreact with the NO_(x) to neutralize it and prevent the formation ofphotochemical ozone immediately adjacent and surrounding the crops'leafy canopy.

In the first step 12 of the method, hydrogen is acquired from one ofseveral sources, including: electrolysis of water or otherhydrogen-containing substance, delivered in pure form in tanks,harvested from methane or other hydrocarbon using steam reforming, oranother source.

The hydrogen gas is filtered of impurities in the second step 14 of themethod using a hydrogen purification device. This step may not benecessary in the case of tank delivered hydrogen, but is necessary forhydrogen sourced from hydrocarbons such as methane. Possible hydrogenpurification methods include palladium membranes, dense thin-metalmembrane purifiers, pressure swing adsorption, catalytic recombination,or an electrochemical purification system, the latter of which can havethe added benefit of compressing the hydrogen simultaneously.

The third step 16 is the compression of the purified hydrogen for easeof storage. Possible methods for compressing hydrogen include:reciprocating piston compressors, ionic liquid piston compressors,hydride compressors, piston-metal diaphragm compressors, guided rotorcompressors, and the highly efficient electrochemical hydrogencompressor. The compressed hydrogen can then be stored in containersuntil needed or be directed into the system immediately.

In the fourth step 18, the hydrogen is diluted with ambient air or othergaseous media so that the hydrogen component is equal to, or less than,4% of the total gaseous mixture, which will prevent the hydrogen fromsustaining a spontaneous combustive reaction, should an ignition sourcebe present. This dilution is preferably accomplished using a venturivalve 19. The venturi valve dilution process utilizes the Venturieffect, whereby a constriction of the diameter for a short stretch ofthe valve causes a drop in pressure. The low pressure area createssuction which draws in a diluent such as oxygen which mixes with thehydrogen gas stream.

During the fifth step 20 of the method the pressure is modified asneeded by a pressure regulator 21, and the flow rate is regulated by aflow control valve 22. The regulator 21 can be a single-stage ordouble-stage regulator. The flow control valve 22 is preferablyconnected via a layflat manifold 24 to the array of piping whichdistributes gas throughout the crop field.

The layflat manifold 24 is commonly used by growers to deliver water.Using a layflat manifold to deliver gas therefore has the advantagesthat those managing the field are familiar with its service andmaintenance. The flow rate of the valve 22 is set so that just enoughhydrogen is introduced so that the ongoing chemical reaction occupiesthe leafy crop canopy and immediately adjacent area. The release point25 of the reagent is preferably just below the leafy canopy of the crop.For certain crops that do not benefit from direct exposure to a reagentsuch as hydrogen, the release point would then be directly above theleafy canopy. In this case the diluted hydrogen would not contact thecrops as hydrogen rises above the air. The hydrogen then neutralizes theexisting NO_(x) and ozone in the local sphere. Furthermore, new NO_(x)and O₃ that is moving into the leafy area by diffusion or dispersionacross the chemical gradient created in the sphere by the initialneutralization is then neutralized.

Finally, the flow valve can be electronically adjusted by a reagentcontrol unit 26. The reagent control unit 26 receives data from sensors28 A-D in the field. These sensors convey signals via wired or wirelessmeans The types of sensors relaying data to the reagent control unitinclude: temperature sensors 28A, wind velocity anemometers 288,photosynthetically active radiation level (PAR) sensors 28C, reagentconcentration level sensors 28D, and pollutant concentration levelsensors 28E. While the use of air quality sensors was expensive in thepast, the 2010s saw a trend towards the development of cheaperair-quality sensors, making the final component of the system 10affordable and beneficial.

The descriptions above and the accompanying materials should beinterpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While theinvention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodimentor embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be otherembodiments which fall within the scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for enhancing crop growthcomprising the steps of: a. introducing a reagent to a crop canopy toneutralize air pollutants within said canopy, wherein said reagentinduces an oxidation-reduction chemical reaction with the air pollutionpresent throughout the acreage of crops, and by means of the reactioneffectually neutralizing the harmful effects of the air pollutants onsaid crops; b. diluting said reagent using a venturi valve or othermeans; c. regulating the flow rate of said reagent using an electroniccontrol unit, based on data collected from a at least one type of sensorin said canopy that is in communication with said control unit.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the reagent is hydrogen H₂ gas.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the hydrogen gas is diluted at a ratio notto exceed the flammability point of 4% H₂ concentration in ambient air.4. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the source of the reagent iselectrolysis.
 5. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the source of thereagent is a steam methane reformer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the source of the reagent is a compressed tank.
 7. The apparatusof claim 20, wherein the filtration step can be accomplished using anelectrochemical purification system.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the filtration device is communicatively connected to thereagent source via a hose.
 9. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein thereagent compressor can be an electrochemical hydrogen compressor. 10.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compressor is communicablyconnected to the filtration device via a hose.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the reagent storage container is communicablyconnected to the compressor via a hose.
 12. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the reagent is diluted using a venturi valve.
 13. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein the dilution mechanism is communicably coupled tothe storage container via a hose.
 14. The apparatus of claim 20, whereinthe pressure regulator can be a single-stage or double-stage regulator.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pressure regulator iscommunicably coupled to the dilution mechanism via a hose.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 20, wherein the flow control valve is communicablycoupled to the piping distribution array via a layflat manifold, and iscommunicably coupled to the pressure regulator via a hose.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 20, wherein the reagent control unit is communicablycoupled to the flow control valve and the sensors embedded in the field.18. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the delivering actuation and rateof delivery of the reagent is determined by the level of air pollution,so that the chemical neutralizing effect envelopes, but does not vastlyexceed the space occupied by the crops' foliar canopy.
 19. Anagricultural method for enhancing crop growth comprising the steps of:a. introducing a reagent to a crop canopy to neutralize air pollutantswithin said canopy, wherein said reagent induces an oxidation-reductionchemical reaction with the air pollution present throughout the acreageof crops, and by means of the reaction effectually neutralizing theharmful effects of the air pollutants on said crops; b. filteringimpurities from said reagent; c. diluting said reagent using a venturivalve or other means; d. regulating the flow rate of said reagent usingan electronic control unit, based on data collected from a at least onetype of sensor in said canopy that is in communication with said controlunit;
 20. An method for enhancing crop growth, comprising the steps of:a. providing a supply of H₂ gas reagent; b. filtering impurities fromthe reagent; c. compressing the reagent; d. storing the reagent; e.diluting the reagent to below 4% concentration; f. regulating reagentpressure; g. collecting data on temperature, photosynthetically activeradiation levels (PAR), wind speed, pollutant concentration, and reagentconcentration within the canopy, h. controlling rate of flow of reagentusing a valve, based on data obtained; i. applying the reagent to atleast one group of plants, whereby the reagent is used to neutralize airpollutants.